This was our first renewal, so cannot say if it is a change, but we were turned away at the gates and had to go to the window to get our MB activated with the renewed AP. I was under the assumption it would already be linked, since the AP showed renewed online, but nope.
If your experience turns out different, please let us know. I would then at least like to know if we did something wrong and could save us time next year when we renew.